PUBLICAN NOT GIVEN LICENCE BACK

List of other articles and published letters on cannabis

Source: BBC Online

Pub date: Friday, December 10, 2004

Subj: Publican Not Given Licence Back

Cited: Election results: http://www.lca-uk.org/electionresults.php

Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/4085393.stm

The owner of a Great Yarmouth pub who had his licence revoked after being convicted of selling cannabis has failed to win it back.

Police opposed the appeal at Norwich Crown Court on the grounds Michael Skipper, 59, of the Gallery Bar, was not a fit person to hold a licence.

Judge Paul Downes said: "Supplying cannabis is still very serious and usually imprisonment follows."

Mr Skipper won 187 votes on a legalise cannabis ticket [Legalise Cannabis Alliance] in a recent election.

'ILL CONDUCTED' PREMISES

The pub licence was originally revoked in June when Great Yarmouth licensing justices said he was not a proper person and his premises had been "ill conducted".

Mr Skipper had already been sentenced to 100 hours community service after a trial in April at Norwich Crown Court.

When dismissing the appeal on Thursday judge Paul Downes said: "He is entitled to have whatever views he likes about cannabis and he has been concerned in an organisation which promotes it.

"But whatever his views about drug taking, no licensing authority can support it. It is prohibited."

POLITICAL STATEMENT

Mr Skipper said: "I intended the bar to be used by artists but now I'll have to find someone else to run it. I was making a political and social statement because cannabis use is rife in Great Yarmouth.

"Attacks by the police are not working. We will have to sit down and talk through the problem.

"I shall be prevented from selling alcohol until I find someone to take on the licence. With no source of income I shall be struggling to pay bills and keep the premises running."

Mr Skipper was ordered to pay UKP 3,000 costs of the appeal.